After placing third in both indoor and outdoor MIAC Championships last spring, the Blazer Track and Field team is eager to begin a fresh season.
Head Coach Robin Balder-Lanoue, named 2009 MIAC Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, expects the Blazers to be a strong team.
“We have a lot of athletes returning, but about half of the women will be new,” Balder-Lanoue said. “The captains are doing a fantastic job and our athletes have trained very hard in the off-season.”
Balder-Lanoue hopes to see the team place in the top three in the MIAC by May.
“It all comes down to what you do on that day,” Balder-Lanoue said. “The biggest thing is to keep everyone healthy, and if we do this, we can accomplish our goals.”
With the help of two returning conference champs, these goals don’t seem out of reach. Junior sprinter Abby Neigebauer and sophomore jumper Julia Renner finished first in their events at the MIAC Championships. Neigebauer went on to Nationals where she finished 15th in the 100-meter dash.
St. Thomas and Gustavus will be two of the top competitors this season, but the women will take every team seriously.
“I’ve learned throughout the years that as much as you want to, you can’t control other people’s races, so why worry about them?” Neigebauer said. “Instead of fig- uring out how to beat the opponents, I focus on my own race and beating my own times.”
Senior Captain Alyx Chapman agrees.
“To follow up those performances we are going to have to work just as hard and push ourselves to reach better heights, distances and times.”
The strong leadership on the team will help move the Blazers toward these goals and inspire the young players to shine.
“There are different types of leaders on our team,” Chapman said. “Ones who quietly model the way and some who aren’t so subtle. Either way, our team’s dedication to each other and the sport is shown each weekend during our performances and the improvements we make.”
“Our team is a lot more positive this year, and that’s a great strength to have,” Neigebauer said. “Instead of whining about how hard the workouts are going to be, we just do it and get it done.”
As some women get their lucky sports bras or hair binders ready for this weekend’s meet, they continue to focus on their busy workload while maintaining stress.
“Any student-athlete knows how difficult it can be to balance sports, a social life and your health,” Chapman said. “It is easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed. However, our women know that with patience and perseverance their hard work will pay off.”
The Blazers chose the theme “Blazer Fierce,” from Beyonce’s “Sasha Fierce” to help pump up their attitudes.
“When we step into the track/ field, we become our alter-ego and get into performance mode,” Neigebauer said. “The MIAC doesn’t know what’s coming.”
The Blazers’ first meet is 6:15 tonight at Carleton.